High demand for new land surveying education in Skellefteå: Desired skills in the region
Aug 18, 2025
A new distance education program for land surveyors in Skellefteå has already attracted many applicants – not least from northern Sweden. A three-year program is now starting at Campus Skellefteå to address the growing skills shortage in the region.
"There is a clear demand for surveyors in the region. For a long time, we have worked together with Skellefteå and the local business community to shape an education that not only responds to the needs of the labor market but also offers students a high-quality study environment."
This fall, a long-awaited program will start in Skellefteå - a bachelor's program in surveying with a focus on property law and land use. Behind the initiative is Högskolan i Gävle, which, in close collaboration with Skellefteå Universities Alliance (SUA), now offers the program online – with regular meetings in Skellefteå.
The demand is high, with many applicants. Many of them come from northern Sweden, where the need for qualified surveyors is significant.
– There is a clear demand for surveyors in the region. We have been working closely with Skellefteå and the local business community for a long time to shape a program that meets the labor market's needs and offers students a high-quality study environment. We are very pleased that the collaboration has yielded results, says Jesper Paasch, program manager at Högskolan i Gävle.
High demand for new land surveying education in Skellefteå: Desired skills in the region
A new distance education program for land surveyors in Skellefteå has already attracted many applicants – not least from northern Sweden. A three-year program is now starting at Campus Skellefteå to address the growing skills shortage in the region.
This fall, a long-awaited program will start in Skellefteå - a bachelor's program in surveying with a focus on property law and land use. Behind the initiative is Högskolan i Gävle, which, in close collaboration with Skellefteå Universities Alliance (SUA), now offers the program online – with regular meetings in Skellefteå.
The demand is high, with many applicants. Many of them come from northern Sweden, where the need for qualified surveyors is significant.
– There is a clear demand for surveyors in the region. We have been working closely with Skellefteå and the local business community for a long time to shape a program that meets the labor market's needs and offers students a high-quality study environment. We are very pleased that the collaboration has yielded results, says Jesper Paasch, program manager at Högskolan i Gävle.
"There is a clear demand for surveyors in the region. For a long time, we have worked together with Skellefteå and the local business community to shape an education that not only responds to the needs of the labor market but also offers students a high-quality study environment."
"There is a clear demand for surveyors in the region. For a long time, we have worked together with Skellefteå and the local business community to shape an education that not only responds to the needs of the labor market but also offers students a high-quality study environment."
The concept of a land surveyor often raises questions about what the job entails. The role spans both law and technology, and after graduation, one can work in everything from municipalities and forestry companies to energy companies, consulting firms, and authorities such as the Land Surveying Authority.
The program is three years long and leads to a bachelor's degree. The majority of the teaching takes place digitally, but students are invited to Campus Skellefteå to meet both teachers, industry professionals – and each other. Some laboratories also take place on-site in Gävle during the second and third years.
The concept of a land surveyor often raises questions about what the job entails. The role spans both law and technology, and after graduation, one can work in everything from municipalities and forestry companies to energy companies, consulting firms, and authorities such as the Land Surveying Authority.
The program is three years long and leads to a bachelor's degree. The majority of the teaching takes place digitally, but students are invited to Campus Skellefteå to meet both teachers, industry professionals – and each other. Some laboratories also take place on-site in Gävle during the second and third years.
The industry is also directly involved in the education, with guest lectures and study visits.
– For us, it is important that students get a strong grounding in the environment where they may work. The meetings on-site in Skellefteå play a big role in helping them get to know each other and the region, says Jesper Paasch.
The initiative is part of Skellefteå's long-term strategy to become an attractive study location with a wide range of higher education.
– We are building Campus Skellefteå as a multicampus together with several educational institutions – to offer more opportunities for higher education where people want to live and work, says Kenth Johansson, education strategist at Campus Skellefteå.
The strong interest in northern Sweden is seen as a confirmation that the education is truly needed.
Photo: Alexander Lindström, University of Gävle
The industry is also directly involved in the education, with guest lectures and study visits.
– For us, it is important that students get a strong grounding in the environment where they may work. The meetings on-site in Skellefteå play a big role in helping them get to know each other and the region, says Jesper Paasch.
The initiative is part of Skellefteå's long-term strategy to become an attractive study location with a wide range of higher education.
– We are building Campus Skellefteå as a multicampus together with several educational institutions – to offer more opportunities for higher education where people want to live and work, says Kenth Johansson, education strategist at Campus Skellefteå.
The strong interest in northern Sweden is seen as a confirmation that the education is truly needed.
Photo: Alexander Lindström, University of Gävle
The industry is also directly involved in the education, with guest lectures and study visits.
– For us, it is important that students get a strong grounding in the environment where they may work. The meetings on-site in Skellefteå play a big role in helping them get to know each other and the region, says Jesper Paasch.
The initiative is part of Skellefteå's long-term strategy to become an attractive study location with a wide range of higher education.
– We are building Campus Skellefteå as a multicampus together with several educational institutions – to offer more opportunities for higher education where people want to live and work, says Kenth Johansson, education strategist at Campus Skellefteå.
The strong interest in northern Sweden is seen as a confirmation that the education is truly needed.
Photo: Alexander Lindström, University of Gävle
The industry is also directly involved in the education, with guest lectures and study visits.
– For us, it is important that students get a strong grounding in the environment where they may work. The meetings on-site in Skellefteå play a big role in helping them get to know each other and the region, says Jesper Paasch.
The initiative is part of Skellefteå's long-term strategy to become an attractive study location with a wide range of higher education.
– We are building Campus Skellefteå as a multicampus together with several educational institutions – to offer more opportunities for higher education where people want to live and work, says Kenth Johansson, education strategist at Campus Skellefteå.
The strong interest in northern Sweden is seen as a confirmation that the education is truly needed.
Photo: Alexander Lindström, University of Gävle
The industry is also directly involved in the education, with guest lectures and study visits.
– For us, it is important that students get a strong grounding in the environment where they may work. The meetings on-site in Skellefteå play a big role in helping them get to know each other and the region, says Jesper Paasch.
The initiative is part of Skellefteå's long-term strategy to become an attractive study location with a wide range of higher education.
– We are building Campus Skellefteå as a multicampus together with several educational institutions – to offer more opportunities for higher education where people want to live and work, says Kenth Johansson, education strategist at Campus Skellefteå.
The strong interest in northern Sweden is seen as a confirmation that the education is truly needed.
Photo: Alexander Lindström, University of Gävle
Facts: The Land Surveyor Program in Skellefteå
Scope: 180 higher education credits (three years, distance)
Degree: Bachelor of Philosophy
Specialization: Real Estate Law and Land Use
Eligibility: Basic eligibility + Mathematics 2 and Social Studies 1
Professions after graduation: Land Surveyor, Land Negotiator, Real Estate Economist, Real Estate Appraiser
Further studies: Eligibility for master's programs, e.g. Geospatial Information Science
Examples of subjects you study: Real Estate Law, Property Formation, Planning, GIS, Measurement Technology, Real Estate Economics. A strong emphasis is placed on project work and collaboration with companies and authorities.
Good job prospects now and in the future: The Public Employment Service's occupational barometer assesses that the job opportunities for land surveyors are moderately good today – but are expected to increase significantly over the next five years across the country.
